Yellowstone & Grand Tetons Tour Aug.2010

[The Mangonel]

Reservations can now be made for the August 2010 Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons Tour. We will depart our area on August 7 heading to Missoula, MT. On Sunday the 8th, the actual tour will start at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. We will be touring Yellowstone on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday we will drive down to the Grand Tetons for a one-day tour, returning to Yellowstone in the evening. Wednesday through Friday we will be in Yellowstone touring. On Saturday, the 14th, we will depart for home.
You don't have to start or end this tour with us in Washington. Some members already plan on meeting in Mammoth due to where they live (ie: Dave from Calgary!)
We have the following locations reserved:
Sunday the 8th: Mammoth Hot Springs - Yellowstone National Park.
Monday the 9th: Grant Village - Yellowstone National Park.
Tuesday the 10th and Wednesday the 11th: Old Faithful Inn - Yellowstone National Park.
Thursday the 12th: Canyon Lodge - Yellowstone National Park.
Friday the 13th: Absaroka Lodge - Gardiner, MT.
Reservations for all Yellowstone Park lodging can be made by calling: 1-307-344-5437. Tell them you are with the S2000 club. They will make your reservations for all 5 nights inside the park. Prices vary by area and room type. Generally prices are as follows: (these prices include all taxes and fees)
Mammoth- $89.55 to $137.17: Grant-$159.85 or $166.46: Old Faithful Inn-$108.04 to $184.10; Canyon Lodge-$79.35 to $168.91. a deposit of the first nights stay at each location is reqired (ie: 4 nights.)
Reservations for the Absaroka Lodge can be made by calling 1-800-755-7414. Tell them you are with the S2000 club. Rooms are $117.70.
As of 17 December, there are only 3 rooms left. This tour is limited to 10 rooms only! This is to control tour size.

For further info contact me by PM or E-mail at s2kforray@aol.com.

Presently reserved to go:
1. the mangonel +1
2..GLTYFUN
3. Repiv
4. Dansadict
5. MoS2000
6. SVPapillon +1
7. DJss2k
8.Pam & Bob Cody

HELD ROOMS FOR RESERVATIONS HAVE EXPIRED! You may still be able to make reservations and join us, but you'll have to call Xanterra and make them yourself. Same for the Absaroka Lodge on the final Friday night.

[repiv]

This is very encouraging. There's still 8 months to go and we've got this 70% booked. :thumbup: It's also comforting to know that most of the lodging has already been paid off for those 70% of us. The remainder will be minor when the time comes. This means I can pick up an RC helicopter on the way home. :D

[The Mangonel]

Not too bad. Only 3 spots open 8 months before the event. Just wish S2KDays hadn't been moved up so much. However, this will be a great event for those who don't want to drive over 2500 miles to get to Asheville. A bit far for me.

[MoS2000]

Only 329,160 minutes and counting, before I start my trip from Vancouver, Canada! In case you are wondering, this means we need one person to sign up every 109,720 minutes - give or take a few!

[desmo4]

Sounds great, I would love to go but it depends on how my contract job plays out.


Jonathan

[DDonovan]

Man I would love to go as well but going to be busy planning out the Poker Run.., Very tempting though.

[MoS2000]

Man I would love to go as well but going to be busy planning out the Poker Run.., Very tempting though.

Dave, its a couple of weeks after the Poker Run, so there is enough time to pack up! Great if you'd join us.

[DDonovan]

Duh Oh ya..., I will give it some thought. Maybe if some owners from here sign up for my Poker Run
;-)

[The Mangonel]

I'd love to go on the your Poker Run, but that is a couple of days after my anniversary, and I may not be in the area. We usually go to Vegas and don't get back for several days.

[jc-s2000]

sounds like a blast. i drove through yellowstone and the grand tetons many years ago and it was awe inspiring to say the least!

[DDonovan]

I'd love to go on the your Poker Run, but that is a couple of days after my anniversary, and I may not be in the area. We usually go to Vegas and don't get back for several days.

Hey I understand, although a nice room up at the mountain would be a great gift to yourselves ..., :poke:

[The Mangonel]

Time is running out for reservations to the Absaroka Lodge. They will only hold them until 1 January! I may be able to call and get it extended, but don't depend on it. They quickly fill up for the summer and don't have to worry about holding rooms. So if you are thinking about going, you'd better call the Absaroka now! There's no hold reservation charge for them. You can always call Yellowstone for reservations in a couple of months. After Christmas bills are paid off! Plus, there are only 2 or 3 rooms left.

[The Mangonel]

:shout: :poke: Reservations can now be made for the Best Western Grant Creek Inn in Missoula, MT. That will be where we will stop on Saturday night, for those of us traveling from Washington. Anyone else traveling from this area could stay there also. I have eight more rooms reserved.
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/priceAvail.do?propertyCode=27071
Price is $124.30 after taxes. They have a full breakfast in the morning also.:coffee2: Woman said they are about 3 1/2 hours out of Yellowstone. So we should be in Yellowstone between noon and 1 PM. Perfect!
Phone # is (406) 543-0700.

[repiv]

If it turns out that I can't justify the cost of going to S2K Days in Asheville, I'll likely meet up with you guys in Missoula. Is there a deadline for when your reservations expire? I suppose I could book and then cancel as per their rules.

[The Mangonel]

The hotel said they would hold the reservations until July 7th. So you have to make them more than one month before we go. Missoula is a little bit of a backtrack for you Dave. Not too bad though.
Flying out to S2KDays and then doing Yellowstone would be a bit expensive. And very tiring. Glad to hear you can make Yellowstone though. We'll be happy to see you again.

[repiv]

Will you give us a reminder as the rooms get taken up? And maybe another one as we get close to July 7th?
I was going to go directly to Bozeman and take the flight out from there. On the way back from Asheville, I wouldn't catch up with you till after supper on Sunday in Yellowstone's first lodging. You're right, it'll be quite tiring and I don't really like the idea of leaving my car at a little airport for several days.
Oddly, the travel time for me to Bozeman is the same as to Missoula, but Bozeman puts me closer to Yellowstone and all I have to do is to wait for you to pick me up on the go if I don't go to Asheville. Still, it would nice to dine with you guys in Missoula and do the drive with you from there. Still mulling this one over. Will check flight costs in late June and decide then.

[The Mangonel]

You could save a couple hundred miles of driving by going to Bozeman instead. We'll be diriving right through there on Sunday morning. We could easily meet you there instead of you driving to Missoula. We probably won't be in Missoula until at least 6-7 PM. Not much time to do more than eat and go to bed for Sunday's drive. Should reach Bozeman by 12or so. Hope to be in Yellowstone around 1-2 PM.
I'll try to keep availability of hotels posted here occasionally.
As for leaving your car in Bozeman; convertible sports car with Canadian plates parked in long-term parking, what could go wrong?

[repiv]

convertible sports car with Canadian plates parked in long-term parking, what could go wrong?:facepalm:

You may be right about meeting you in Bozeman. Oh well, I've got nearly 7 months to think about it.

[MoS2000]

As for leaving your car in Bozeman; convertible sports car with Canadian plates parked in long-term parking, what could go wrong?

:rofl: Priceless comment! My sides are hurting! But......
....this gives Dave enough months to design and implement an S2000-specific thief trap that involves a mod to the drivers seat. Two traps for the chest and one for the thighs oughta do it! To combat someone sliding out upwards (its a ragtop after all), the traps could be inlaid with barbs. Of course, this would need a blood collection pan underneath the seat so it doesn't get all over the car. Frankly I can't see anyone giving up and just sitting there! The downside of all this is that the seats would have to be turfed afterwards - the leather would likely survive it, but the batting and whatever-else that fills out the seat would not be useable.

[Mackbike]

Drive Bear Tooth Highway going north east out of Yellowstone. Picked by several as the best drive in North America. You will enjoy the Tetons and Yellowstone.

[The Mangonel]

Checked with karen Kerr in Yellowstone today and there are only two rooms left. If you are thinking of going, I wouldn't wait long. Once those two are gone, that's all there is.
I'm thinking of Bear Tooth Highway. Maybe go to the top and then return. It's the length of time to get there that may not work out.

[The Mangonel]

RESERVATION ALERT! For those thinkiing about going but haven't mede their reservations, the Absaroka Lodge in Gardiner will only hold remaining rooms for two more weeks. Gardiner is our final night on the Yellowstone trip. We depart from Gardiner on Saturday morning.
If you are thinkiiing of going on this trip, better make your reservations soon. Gardiner gets kind of expensive later.

[The Mangonel]

Time is running out for reservations. Yellowstone sent me an e-mail reminding me that they will hold our remaining rooms only until May 10. After that, you'd have to try to make your own reservations. Not an easy thing to do for summer in Yellowstone.
So if you are thinking of going, better make your reservations soon. Once they are gone, they're gone! Contact Xanterra at (307) 344-5518 and tell them you want to make reservations with LGS2000 ( or the S2000 club.) Contact me about other reservations you may need.
This means: The Fat Lady is preparing to sing!

[C G]

My wife and I were planning a trip to this area in late Sept. but we are being forced to change our dates. Not sure what dates we will be out there but we'll certainly take a hard look at at least trying to meet you guys for day or so. Or we may have to put the trip off until spring.

[The Mangonel]

If you are thinking of visiting for a day or so, you need to check out xanterra.com. They will be able to tell you what is still open and make your reservations. They also do a lot of other parks. The only hotels they do are inside the parks.
We'd be happy to have you visit while we're there. There's a million places to see in Yellowstone.

[The Mangonel]

I'm presently cecking on room availability in Yellowstone. I believe we only have one or two rooms left. I should have an exact number in a couple of days. Time is running out! Any remaining rooms are lost after 10 May.

[The Mangonel]

Just heard back from Karen Kerr at Xanterra, we have two rooms left. They are still holding those rooms for another 11 days, but that's it. If you are thinking of joining us for Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, better make reservations quick. After 10 May, they go away!

[MoS2000]

There are 98 sleeps before I head out on this trip! Thats only 2,352 hours, which is 141,120 minutes. Most would say there's too many hours to start counting..... but I've been counting for quite a few months already!
Surprised to see those two remaining rooms haven't been snapped up. Spectacular scenery, Exquisite vehicle, Awesome company, Breathtaking photo ops, Top-down splendour, what else can I say to entice people......

[The Mangonel]

Getting down to the last minute! Only 5 days left to make reservations at Yellowstone. After that, you would have to book on a space available basis from what they have left. If you call before the 10th they will still book you into any available room type, whether or not we have that type reserved. However, in 6 days, you're on your own. And Yellowstone books up quickly. (That's why I started this before last year's S2KDays!)
So if you are thinking of going, it's time to decide before it's too late!:poke: :banghead: :sad:

[The Mangonel]

Last day for reservations! Con tacting Karen to get our final group for his trip. Should be a great time for all. And unmatched scenery.

[The Mangonel]

The fat lady has sung! Our room hold for reservations has ended. Looks like there are going to be eight cars on this trip. I can't wait to get the S in Yellowstone. Less than 3 months to go!
If you procrastinated too long and still want to go, you'll have to call Xanterra and make reservations yourself. See the first posts in this thread for when we'll be staying where. There may be rooms still available.

[MoS2000]

I can't wait to get the S in Yellowstone.

I'm guessing that would be your S *and* your camera, Ray?
This trip will involve two of my favouritest things - driving the S and photography. And if you add 7 other S's and their owners/passengers to spend time with in idyllic surroundings, I just cannot imagine a better way to spend a week.

[The Mangonel]

Oh, the camera will be there. Moving and in HD at that!

[The Mangonel]

Ordered a new HD camera for this trip (and others.) Ordered a new 1080P GoPro Motorsports. That way I can strap it to the roll bars and shoot either direction. No tripod setup! Hopefully I'll have it before the Olympic Peninsula tour. I am soooo looking forward to this trip.

[repiv]

This might be premature, but below is a link to Google Maps of what I think is the Mammoth Springs Hotel area. Can someone point out where it is we check in and where our "cabins" are?

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=44.976404,-110.699712&spn=0.005002,0.013894&t=h&z=17

[repiv]

I see you guys are staying in Missoula the first night on your road trip. I now see on the map that it's almost a direct drive south for me to Missoula and staying in Great Falls, MT is not much of an advantage. That gets me to Gardiner about 1/2 hour before you.
What hotel is everyone staying in Missoula? Might make more sense to meet up with you there than to try and find you in Mammoth.

[4U2NV]

This might be premature, but below is a link to Google Maps of what I think is the Mammoth Springs Hotel area. Can someone point out where it is we check in and where our "cabins" are?

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=44.976404,-110.699712&spn=0.005002,0.013894&t=h&z=17

That looks like the same place where we stayed last year. It looks like you will be staying in the cabins at the top left of your sat image.

[repiv]

That looks like the same place where we stayed last year. It looks like you will be staying in the cabins at the top left of your sat image.

Thanks, Jason. From the "street view" in Google Maps, there's elk laying all over the place around those cabins. Nice!

[4U2NV]

You will have a great time! Enjoy and have a cold one and think of us. :D

[MoS2000]

I see you guys are staying in Missoula the first night on your road trip. I now see on the map that it's almost a direct drive south for me to Missoula and staying in Great Falls, MT is not much of an advantage. That gets me to Gardiner about 1/2 hour before you.
What hotel is everyone staying in Missoula? Might make more sense to meet up with you there than to try and find you in Mammoth.

Just PM'd you on the hotel in Missoula, Dave.

[repiv]

Got it. Thanks.

[The Mangonel]

Been in Alaska for the last week. Sorry Dave, no internet! I'm too cheap to pay for the cruise ship rate for internet. Thanks Mo for sending the hotel info.
As for the Elk, yes, they hang around that area a lot. And they like to occasionally attack nosy tourists. You have to respect them and maintain your distance. You can bet we'll see some Elk - up close!

[repiv]

No problem, Ray. I knew you were in Alaska and Mo came through. I've booked the hotel in Missoula. I got a much better price when I reserved at the hotel's website and asking for the seniors rate than had I done it via Hotels.ca. I trust you guys didn't have a special group rate for that motel. No matter. I can live with the price I got.
PS. Looking at Google maps, it's really not backtracking for me that much to go to Missoula and hook up with you guys there. I was originally going to stay in Great Falls that first night, but Missoula is an easy drive for me on that first day. Probably a lot shorter drive than for you guys coming from the coast.
PPS. Ray, I owe you a beer for all those antacids you gave me in Port Angeles. :D

[The Mangonel]

I've still got your original $5 bill. Change to be returned at Missoula. We'll see you there Dave.

[repiv]

Haha, let's call it even then. 5 bucks for the antacids. :rockon:

[The Mangonel]

Everyone who's signed up: we've reached the 30 day point. Unless you cancell today, you don't get your full refund. The only cancellation I know of is Helen. But, I definitely understand her reasons. I'm sure she'd rather go.
The hotel in Missoula called me yesterday and confirmed 6 reservations. Then I mentioned Dave, and low and behold, we became seven. Sounds like we'll all be together on Saturday. Now I have to set up the return hotel! Coeur D'Alene anyone?

[MoS2000]

I wonder if a smaller place than Coeur D'Alene might be a tad cheaper? Like Kellog perhaps? They have a ski resort there, but it will be low season, so likely cheaper rates. However, I'll go with the majority, whatever is chosen.

[dansadict]

:cry1: :cry1: :cry1: Waaaaaaaa
I miss you guys and long drives with the top down.

[repiv]

Will miss you too, Helen. 3 cannucks and we'd almost out number them. Perhaps next year when things brighten up.

[SVPapillon]

Here's a link to road closures in the park: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm

[repiv]

I trust Ray will guide us. Ray leads, we follow.

[The Mangonel]

Ray closes his eyes and feels for the side of the road!

[MoS2000]

Ray closes his eyes and feels for the side of the road!

Bones once said to Spock, "when Jim asked you to take a guess, he knew your guess would be very precise". Spock replied hesitantly, "well in that case, I will try to make my guess a very good one"

Moral of the story .... I am told that your "feel for the side of the road" may be much better than anyone else's! So I'm happy to follow, as long as you make it your best "feel for the side of the road"!

[The Mangonel]

As I always tell the club members - "feel the car, be the car."

[repiv]

As I always tell the club members - "feel the car, be the car."

Is that a shift knob in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

[The Mangonel]

That's what my S always says when I take her out for a drive! (I just tell her it's a front drive half-shaft.)

[The Mangonel]

Return Trip Room Info.
I don't have group rates for the return trip, but the hotel isn't that expensive. We'll be staying at the Quality Inn Downtown 4th Avenue in Spokane. Much cheaper than Coeur D'Alene (ie: $40-50.) Phone number is (509) 838-6101. You need to call and make your own reservations! They still have rooms available, but they may not last long. So don't take your time on this.
The hotel is right off the Freeway, so an easy take off from central Spokane on Sunday. It's probably about 4 more hours to the Seattle area.
Rates for AAA/CAA or Senior are around $71. If you are a Choice Hotels member, you can get early reservation rates at $63.99.
Less than two weeks! I soooooo need this trip. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

[repiv]

Just wondering what is your anticipated arrival time at the Missoula motel on Sat.? Where are you all leaving from at what time?

[The Mangonel]

We're planning on leaving the Family Pancake House at Snoqualmie Summit around 9 AM. It's about 450 miles (I believe) to Missoula from there. So, maybe around 5 PM or so?
Don't worry Dave, you can't miss my S2KCA shirt. I'll be the person in the Orange one

[repiv]

We're planning on leaving the Family Pancake House at Snoqualmie Summit around 9 AM. It's about 450 miles (I believe) to Missoula from there. So, maybe around 5 PM or so?
Don't worry Dave, you can't miss my S2KCA shirt. I'll be the person in the Orange one

Oh, I'd recognise you even without the shirt. :D
So, group dinner in Missoula? Text me when you arrive.

[MoS2000]

Return Trip Room Info.
I don't have group rates for the return trip, but the hotel isn't that expensive. We'll be staying at the Quality Inn Downtown 4th Avenue in Spokane. Much cheaper than Coeur D'Alene (ie: $40-50.) Phone number is (509) 838-6101. You need to call and make your own reservations! They still have rooms available, but they may not last long. So don't take your time on this.
The hotel is right off the Freeway, so an easy take off from central Spokane on Sunday. It's probably about 4 more hours to the Seattle area.
Rates for AAA/CAA or Senior are around $71. If you are a Choice Hotels member, you can get early reservation rates at $63.99.
Less than two weeks! I soooooo need this trip. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Just checking.... this is for the night of Aug 14th, right?

[The Mangonel]

Yep Mo. Saturday night. We'll be leaving Gardiner early in the morning. I believe four of us are going back this way. Traci and Steve are heading back toward the South for other return trips. Dave will probably be with us for a while before he turns Nortth for home.

[repiv]

I'll likely head east and north at Livingston (on I-90) while you guys go west. I can be home in about 10 hrs unless I decide to go to Billings to check out a hobby shop.

[MoS2000]

Oh yes, I forgot, you were into RC rotary. I am into RC fixed wing - I think you call us "plankers"! Do you think the Billings hobby shop will be anywhere near as comprehensive as PM Hobbycraft in Calgary?

[repiv]

Oh yes, I forgot, you were into RC rotary. I am into RC fixed wing - I think you call us "plankers"! Do you think the Billings hobby shop will be anywhere near as comprehensive as PM Hobbycraft in Calgary?
You know about PM Hobby? I've been in one of the original owner's home for an RC club meeting years ago. I buy a few things from PM but by comparison to online shops in Hong Kong, PM can't compete. It's still a nice place to go to look at all the neat aircraft.
I've never been to Heliproz in Billings but their website depicts quite a showroom. I am reluctant to buy from them online because their shipping rates are so out of this world. However, I've always thought if there was something that I'd like to buy, getting it directly from their store might be the way to go. Unfortunately, most of the heli kits I'd buy won't fit into the S2000 for the trip home. The two helis I want next is not sold by Heliproz.
I recently got into fixed wing and I really like it. I've had a Parkzone Radian powered sailplane for a few months now. I just took delivery of an A-10 Thunderbolt/Warthog and my Dynam DC3 should be here next week.

[MoS2000]

at the risk of hijacking this thread which is about the trip, well we can have conversations about yet another hobby during this trip. Yes, I know PM well. I used to rc pylon race with the original owner - I believe his son has taken over the shop now.
Eight more days to the trip... I can hardly wait. As of tonight, I will spend 3 hrs an evening prepping - you know, wash one day, wax another day, leather another day, vinyl another day, packing etc.... time will fly quicker that way!!

[repiv]

at the risk of hijacking this thread which is about the trip, well we can have conversations about yet another hobby during this trip. Yes, I know PM well. I used to rc pylon race with the original owner - I believe his son has taken over the shop now.
Eight more days to the trip... I can hardly wait. As of tonight, I will spend 3 hrs an evening prepping - you know, wash one day, wax another day, leather another day, vinyl another day, packing etc.... time will fly quicker that way!!
All I've done is check the sparkplugs, cleaned the air filter and put in a new battery. I might give it a wash but I just know the an hour into the drive, it'll be covered in bug guts anyway.

As for Heliproz, just had another look at their website and can't really see anything I need or want at the moment.